Beverage can cover and seal combination

ABSTRACT

A beverage can cover includes a disk-shaped member with an aperture spaced radially from its center and conforming with a standard opening on an aluminum can for forming a seal with the upper portion of the can. The cover includes a plug sized to cooperate with the aperture to form a fluid-tight reusable seal, and the plug is tethered to the disk-shaped member with an integrally formed detachable strip mounted about a circumferential edge of the disk-shaped member. The tether and plug are separated from the cover when needed by tearing thin attachment means such as a web or tabs, releasing the plug from its stored position on the periphery of the cover for engagement with the aperture. In a preferred embodiment, the plug and aperture are tapered and include a cooperating groove and ridge to secure and seal the plug inside the aperture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to beverage can covers,and more particularly to a combination beverage can cover and acooperating tethered plug detachably connected at a periphery of thecover.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] The aluminum can has become the container of choice among a widevariety of beverage purveyors. Soft drinks, beers, teas, juices, and thelike make up a large percentage of the over hundred billion aluminumcans produced each year in the United States alone. These ubiquitouscans are favored for their recycleability, their low cost, and theavailability of aluminum for producing the cans. For these reasons, thealuminum beverage can has largely replaced all alternative metalbeverage containers in the United States.

[0005] The predominant design of the aluminum can in the United Statesis one that favors convenience. The cylindrical container has acontinuous, smooth wall that transitions seamlessly at the bottom of thecan to a minor, concave base. The can's lid is typically formedseparately for the body of the can and comprises a substantially planarsurface with edges that are rolled with the edges of the can side wallto form a raised bead around the perimeter of the top of the can. Alsomounted on top of the can is a pull-tab secured to a fulcrum, wherepulling the pull-tab pries a distal edge against a portion of the can'slid until a portion of the lid separates along a pre-existing fault linecreated in the lid to define an opening. The force applied by thepull-tab bends the separated lid portion into the can's interior leavingan opening sized to allow the user to consume the beverage directly fromthe can by placing his or her mouth over the opening against the uppersurface of the can. In this manner, the beverage can be opened andconsumed without any additional instruments or wares, adding to theconvenience of the aluminum can.

[0006] One detriment to the design of the aluminum can is theexceptionally sharp edges that are formed at the opening as the metallid is pried open along the pre-existing fault lines. These sharp edgeshave been known to cause accidents, especially to children who can poketheir fingers into the hole and sustain injuries therefrom. A user mayalso sustain injuries when the user's mouth is placed over these sharpedges as the beverage is being consumed. Additionally, the surface ofthe aluminum can is very often the repository for dust, dirt, and othercontaminants that accumulate during storage, packing, andtransportation. This same surface is placed in immediate contact withthe user's mouth when the beverage is consumed directly from thealuminum can. This results in an unsanitary condition that can transfergerms, cause contaminants to be consumed, and lead to sickness anddisease.

[0007] The convenience of the aluminum can, its availability, low cost,and ease of opening is also counter-balanced somewhat by theinconvenience of storing excess beverage not consumed immediately afterthe can is opened. That is, once the aluminum can is opened there is noconvenient means for resealing the can to enjoy the beverage at a latertime. Because many drinks, including colas, sodas, and beers lose theircarbonation or flavor if left without sufficient sealing, unusedportions of beverages served in aluminum cans are typically discardedrather than saved for future consumption. This leads to much unnecessarywaste. The shortcomings of the inability to preserve unfinished beverageand necessity of immediate contact with dangerous and unhygienicsurfaces of the beverage can are not adequately addressed by the priorart.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention is a plastic overlay or cover for analuminum can that reduces or eliminates exposure and contact with thecan's sharp edges and unsanitary surfaces. The cover of the presentinvention fits over the top of the aluminum can and preferably includesan annular skirt that fits over a top portion of the can with aninwardly directed rib that cooperates with a circumferential recess onthe outer surface of the can to maintain the cover in engagement withthe aluminum can in a sealing relationship. The cover includes adispensing port that is placed over the aluminum can's opening forpouring or drinking through. The dispensing port is preferably definedby a spout depending from a lower surface of the cover that fits intothe opening on the can to provide fluid communication between the can'sinterior and the dispensing port of the cover. In a preferred embodimentthe spout includes a beveled catch projecting outwardly therefrom tocapture the spout in the opening of the aluminum can and further securethe cover to the can. The cover thus provides a sanitary, protectivebarrier that shields the user from contact with the upper surface of thecan and the sharp edges around the can's opening.

[0009] The user's oral contact with the can is replaced by contact withthe cover, which is more sanitary and has no sharp edges to injure theuser. The cover further preferably includes a plug sized to snugly fitinto and close the cover's dispensing port to seal the aluminum can andprevent a beverage from losing carbonation between uses. The plug andtether are preferably integrally formed and connected to the disk-shapedcover at a peripheral position around the cover, such as by a frangiblemembrane or series of tabs. The tethered plug is separated along itslength from the cover prior to use by tearing the membrane or detachingthe tabs connecting the tether to the cover while maintaining apermanent connection with the cover at the tether's proximal end. Therelease of the tether allows the plug to be placed in the dispensingport of the cover while still attached to the cover via the tether. In apreferred embodiment, the plug is secured in the dispensing port by anannular ridge disposed on the plug's side wall that cooperates with andengages a peripheral groove on the inner surface of the spout to snapthe plug in the dispensing port.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is an elevated, perspective view of a preferred embodimentof the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is lowered perspective view of the preferred embodiment ofFIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 3 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 4 is an enlarged, elevated perspective cross-sectional viewof the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

[0014]FIG. 5 is an enlarged, lowered perspective view of the preferredembodiment of FIG. 1 taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3;

[0015]FIG. 6 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view of the preferredembodiment of FIG. 1 as employed on a beverage can;

[0016]FIG. 7 is an enlarged, elevated perspective view in cross-sectiontaken along lines 5-5 of FIGURE of a second preferred embodiment; and

[0017]FIG. 8 is an enlarged, sectional plan view of a third embodimentof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] The present invention is directed to a disk-shaped cover for analuminum beverage can that forms a seal with the can and provides ashield against contact with the upper surface of the can and the exposedsharp edges of the can's opening. The cover 10 of the present inventionis provided with an annular depending skirt 25 that encircles the uppercircumferential edge of the can in a fitted manner. Projecting radiallyinward from the skirt 25 is a rib 30 that cooperates with the recess atthe top outer edge of the can to provide a secure seal with the can. Thecover 10 is snapped over the upper surface of the can to initiate theseal, and further comprises a tethered plug 75 to cooperate with adispensing port 70 on the cover to reseal the can after opening. Theplug 75 is tethered to the cover 10 so as to form an integral, unitaryconstruction, where the tether 20 is supported on a periphery of thecover 10 by a frangible membrane 35. When needed, the plug 75 and tether20 are partially separated from the cover by tearing the frangiblemembrane 35 while maintaining the proximal end 105 of the tether 20connected to the cover as an anchor. The slack created by releasing thetether 20 enables the plug 75 to be placed into the dispensing port 70for a substantially fluid-tight seal to preserve the freshness of thebeverage therein.

[0019]FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present inventioncomprising a disk-shaped cover 10 sized to conform with the uppersurface of an aluminum can. Radially displaced outward from the centerof the can is an aperture corresponding to a dispensing port 70 that maybe placed over the location of an opening on the can. The dispensingport 70 is defined by a wall that conforms with the shape of the can'sopening and preferably extends as a spout 45 below a lower surface ofthe disk for insertion into the can's opening and shaped to mate withthe can's opening. A plug 75 is tethered to the disk and shaped toconform with the dispensing port 70, and the tether 20 along its lengthis connected to the disk's circumferential edge by a thin membrane 35that can be readily torn to separate the tether from the disk.

[0020]FIG. 2 illustrates the underside of the cover 10 to reveal thespout 45 depending from the cover's lower surface 41. The spout 45defines the dispensing port 70 and includes an outer surface 55 and aninner surface 50. The spout's outer surface 55 conforms with the shapeof the opening in the can to create a fitted engagement. To enhance theengagement of the spout 45 inside the can's opening, a beveled catch 65is formed on the outer surface below the level of the can's edge portion230 adjacent the opening (see FIG. 6). The beveled catch 65 is angled tofacilitate ingress of the spout 45 through the opening of the can as thecatch expands radially, but resist egress. Once inserted into theopening, the beveled catch 65 on the spout 45 helps to secure the coverto the can.

[0021] Also shown in FIG. 2 is the plug 75 including a top panel 85 anda side wall 90. The side wall 90 is preferably equipped with an annularridge 60 that cooperates with a peripheral groove 80 on the innersurface 50 of the spout 45 to secure the plug 75 in the dispensing port70. When the plug 75 is placed into the dispensing port 70, the annularridge 60 on the plug 75 juts into the peripheral groove 80 on the innersurface 50 to capture the plug and create a greater sealing capacity ascompared to an arrangement without the ridge/groove configuration. Itshould also be understood that the groove can be placed on the plug andthe ridge formed on the inner surface 50 without departing from thescope of the invention.

[0022]FIG. 3 illustrates the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 in planview. The dispensing port 70 is shaped as a flattened crescent toconform with the standard opening of the most prevalent models ofaluminum can. Attached to a peripheral edge of the cover is the tether20 that in turn is attached to the plug 75 sized to mate with thedispensing port 70. The tether 20 is preferably connected to thedisk-shaped member by a thin frangible membrane 35 along a length of thetether. The proximal end 105 of the tether 20 is integrally formed withthe cover to form a permanent connection, and the distal end 120 of thetether 20 is integrally formed with the plug 75 to form anotherpermanent connection. The length of the tether is approximately onehundred eighty degrees of arc of the disk, measured at the periphery ofthe cover, although the length of the tether can obviously vary. In apreferred embodiment, the plug 75 may also be connected to the cover 10by a frangible membrane 35 as shown.

[0023]FIGS. 4 and 5 are enlarged, cross-sectional views of the covershowing the various details of the spout 45, cover 10, and plug 75. Thecover includes a skirt 25 depending from the circumferential lip 100 toencircle the top portion of an aluminum can. The skirt 25 includes aninwardly directed annular rib 30 that engages a recess on the aluminumcan just below the raised bead 205 to grip the can. The raised bead isaccommodated by a notch 95 formed in the cover at the juncture of theskirt and the circumferential lip 100. The shape of the plug 75 and theperipheral groove 80 on the side wall 90 are illustrated in FIG. 4. Theannular ridge 60 shown in FIG. 5 cooperates with the peripheral groove80 when the plug 75 is inserted into the dispensing port 70 to snap theplug in position and enhance the sealing function of the plug 75. Theplug 75 can also be tapered to correspond with a matching taper in thedispensing port 70 as shown in FIG. 6.

[0024]FIG. 6 illustrates the interaction of the cover 10 on an aluminumcan 200. The can includes a raised bead 205 that is received by thenotch 95 of the cover, and the rib 30 fits into the annular recess justbelow the raised bead 205. A well 210 is formed around the upper edge ofthe can to capture any spilled beverage. This well 210 often collectsdirt and contaminants, and the present invention overlays the well 210to preclude oral contact by the user with the well and its surroundingarea. The can includes a pull-tab 215 that functions as a lever, and isattached to a fulcrum 225. By raising the pull-tab 215, a portionthereof is forced against a portion of the lid until said portion 220 isdisplaced along a pre-existing fault line such that it is bent backwardsinto the interior of the can as shown in FIG. 6. The displacement ofthis portion 220 creates an opening in the top of the can used to pourbeverage therefrom.

[0025] When the cover 10 is placed over the can 200, the spout 45 isplaced into the opening of the can. The beveled catch engages the edge230 of the can as the spout 45 slides into the can's opening, ultimatelypassing through the opening to trap the spout 45 inside the can. Thecover encircles the outer upper portion of the can as the skirt 45engages and cooperates with the raised bead 205 and the recess to form aseal with the can. The cover overlays the upper surface of the can toinsulate the can's surface from the user. The dispensing port 70replaces the can's opening as the location for pouring and drinking thebeverage, where the surface of the cover is more easily controlled andsanitized in comparison with the upper surface of the can. As furthershown in FIG. 6, the plug 75 can be inserted into the dispensing port 70to close and seal the passage. As the tapered plug is lowered into thedispensing port, an annular ridge on the inner surface 50 of the spout45 contacts the side wall 90 of the plug 75, providing some resistanceagainst the plug. At the predetermined location, the annular ridge 60encounters the peripheral groove 80 on the side wall 90 to position theplug in the dispensing port 70. The mating of the groove and ridgefurther enhance the fluidic seal of the plug and thereby resistsspillage of the beverage when the plug is so located.

[0026] In an alternative embodiment, the spout 45 can include a mesh orscreen 115 as shown in FIG. 8. The screen is suited for keeping bees andother insects out of the can should the can be left unattended, and alsoprovides a measure of safety when pull-tabs are deposited into the can.A pull-tab can be accidentally ingested and cause choking if placedinside the beverage can while beverage remains in the can. Theprotective screen 115 of FIG. 8 precludes any object larger than themesh or screen opening from passing from the can's interior to theconsumer.

[0027] In another alternative embodiment, the frangible membrane 35 canbe replaced by a series of breakable tabs 110 as shown in FIG. 7. Thetabs are easily torn as the tether 20 is pulled away from the cover torelease the tethered plug 75.

[0028] The cover of the present invention when placed over a beveragecan insulates the user from the surface of the can and the sharp edgesformed when the can is opened. The dispensing port 70 of the coverreplaces the can's opening as the location where beverage is poured ordrank from. The spout 45 provides a conduit to the can's interior wherebeverage can flow through to the user, and a locking beveled catch onthe spout secures the spout to the edge of the can's opening. A plug 75is provided to cooperate with the dispensing port 70 and seal thebeverage can after opening to preserve the freshness and carbonation ofthe beverage. The cover is easily sanitized or may be considered adisposable item for single use. The location of the plug along thecover's periphery facilitates stacking, shipping, and packaging andleads to a more efficient design. The tear-away tether assures that thecover and plug combination will retain its planar configuration untilthe plug is required. The plug also includes a complimentary groove tothe annular ridge of the spout to fix the plug inside the spout andpromote resistance to spillage. The seal may be enhanced by tapering theplug 75 to match a corresponding taper in the dispensing port 70.

[0029] The description of the preferred embodiments are illustrativeonly and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.One of ordinary skill in the art can deviate from the just-describedembodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus,the scope of the present invention should not be limited by thedescriptions above, but rather the scope of the invention is definedsolely by the words of the claims presented below.

What is claimed is:
 1. A beverage can cover comprising: a disk having anupper and lower surface and a circumferential edge, and a dispensingport disposed between a center of the disk and the circumferential edge;a plug shaped to fit into said dispensing port to form a leak-proofseal; and a tether having a length, and said tether connecting said diskand said plug, and said tether integrally formed with said disk as asingle unit and detachably connected to said disk for the length of thetether along said circumferential edge of the disk.
 2. The beverage cancover of claim 1 further comprising: a groove spaced from an uppersurface of the plug and extending around the plug; and a cooperatingridge on a wall of the disk that defines the aperture, whereupon saidridge engages and mates with said groove when the plug is placed intothe dispensing port to secure said plug in said dispensing port.
 3. Thebeverage can cover of claim 1 further comprising: a ridge spaced from anupper surface of the plug and extending around the plug; and acooperating groove on a wall of the disk that defines the aperture,whereupon said ridge engages and mates with said groove when the plug isplaced into the dispensing port to secure said plug in said dispensingport.
 4. The beverage can cover of claim 1 further comprising afrangible membrane joining the circumferential edge of the disk with thetether, the frangible membrane integrally formed with the tether and thedisk, and the frangible membrane having a thickness less than athickness of the tether.
 5. The beverage can cover of claim 1 furthercomprising a plurality of tabs joining the circumferential edge of thedisk with the tether, the tabs integrally formed with the tether and thedisk, and the tabs having a thickness less than a thickness of thetether.
 6. The beverage can cover of claim 1 wherein the tether spansapproximately one hundred eighty degrees of arc of the disk at a radialdistance where the tether is detachably connected to the disk.
 7. Thebeverage can cover of claim 1 wherein the dispensing port of the disk isdefined by a continuous wall substantially perpendicular to the uppersurface and extending downward below the lower surface of the disk forinsertion into an opening in said beverage can, the dispensing porthaving a generally crescent shape.
 8. The beverage can cover of claim 1further comprising an inwardly projecting rib below the upper surface onthe circumferential edge of the cover for engaging a recess in abeverage can to secure said cover to the can.
 9. The beverage can coverof claim 1 further comprising an elevated lip circumscribing the uppersurface of the disk at the circumferential edge.
 10. The beverage cancover of claim 1 further comprising a protective screen across saiddispensing port that allows fluid to pass through.
 11. The beverage cancover of claim 1 wherein said dispensing port is defined by a spoutdepending from said lower surface of said disk and having an inner andouter surface, and wherein the outer surface of said spout has a beveledprojection for engaging an edge of an opening in the can.
 12. Thebeverage can cover of claim 1 wherein said tether is permanentlyconnected to said cover at a first end, and permanently connected tosaid plug at a second end.
 13. A beverage can cover comprising: a diskhaving an upper and lower surface and a circumferential edge, and anaperture disposed between a center of the disk and the circumferentialedge and defined by a continuous wall having an interior surface, thecontinuous wall projecting substantially perpendicular to the uppersurface and extending downward below the lower surface of the disk forinsertion into an opening in said beverage can, the aperture having agenerally crescent shape, and the disk further comprising an inwardlyprojecting rib below the upper surface on the circumferential edge ofthe cover for engaging a recess in a beverage can to secure said coverto the can; a plug shaped to fit into said aperture to form a leak-proofseal and including a side wall, and a groove on the side wall of theplug and a ridge on the disk along a wall defining the aperture andspaced from the upper surface cooperate to form a press-fit juncturebetween the plug and disk; and a tether having a length, and said tetherconnecting said disk and said plug, and said tether integrally formedwith said disk as a single unit and detachably connected to said diskfor the length of the tether along said circumferential edge of thedisk.
 14. The beverage can cover of claim 13 further comprising amembrane joining the circumferential edge of the disk with the tether,the membrane integrally formed with the tether and the disk.
 15. Thebeverage can cover of claim 13 further comprising a plurality of tabsjoining the circumferential edge of the disk with the tether, the tabsintegrally formed with the tether and the disk.
 16. The beverage cancover of claim of claim 13 further comprising an elevated lipcircumscribing the upper surface of the disk at the circumferentialedge.
 17. The beverage can cover of claim 13 wherein the plug comprisesa flat upper surface and a continuous wall depending therefrom at aposition interior to a periphery of the flat upper surface.
 18. Abeverage can cover comprising: a disk having an upper and lower surfaceand a circumferential edge, and an dispensing port disposed between acenter of the disk and the circumferential edge defined by an continuouswall, the continuous wall including a ridge projecting radially inward;a plug shaped to fit into said dispensing port to form a leak-proofseal, the plug comprising a groove sized to receive said radiallyprojecting ridge of the disk's dispensing port; and a tether having alength, and said tether connecting said disk and said plug, and saidtether integrally formed with said disk as a single unit and detachablyconnected to said disk.
 19. A beverage can cover comprising: a diskhaving an upper and lower surface and a circumferential edge, and adispensing port disposed between a center of the disk and thecircumferential edge, said disk further comprising a spout dependingfrom said lower surface sized to be received by an opening in saidbeverage can, said spout including a beveled catch disposed thereon forsecuring the spout inside said opening of said can; a plug shaped to fitinto said aperture to form a leak-proof seal; and a tether having alength, and said tether connecting said disk and said plug, and saidtether integrally formed with said disk as a single unit and detachablyconnected to said disk.